Author: jennifer

Fairy Wings

Children's picture books, Out of Print books

What would you do if you were a fairy who was born without wings?


The heroine of this book is Fia, a fairy who has just that problem.  Rejected by her beautiful sisters and the other fairies, her only friends are animals.


That is, until one day she meets a boy fairy and fixes his wing.  Little does she know he is the prince.


At the ball Fia is humiliated because she has no wings.  She leaves, heartbroken.  Minutes later all the fairies are captured by the troll and Fia alone is left.  In spite of the unkindness she has suffered at the hands of her people, Fia chooses to try to save them.  It takes courage, intellingence and effort, but in the end she is triumphant.  She also receives the reward of being appreciated for who she is.


Fairy Wings is a book that reminds us that we may always choose our response.  Fia’s choice to  answer unkindness with kindness provides a lesson in taking the high road.  It is also a reminder that what we look like on the outside is not the measure of who we are.  We always enjoy reading this gem, my girls in particular.  Unfortunately, it is out of print (too many of the best books are)  but you can find used paperback copies for sale here .  Hope you enjoy it!

Hopeful Homemaker

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Sheep

Musings on Life and Beauty

I’ve been marveling lately at the blessing of living in an area which, although suburban, still retains much pastoral beauty.


These sheep live about 2 blocks from my house.  Most days I drive by, but today I couldn’t.  It was simply too beautiful.


This guy stood still as a statue, watching me.


This one sat contentedly.


A few wandered closer.




I loved the moss growing on the fence, the shelter of the tree overhead.


I laughed as this one went to scratch his back on a low branch.  The wad of wool indicated that he was not the first.






I find that the more I notice simple beauty in the world around me, the more alive I feel.  The more alive I feel, the more I notice.


And I can’t help but think, it really is a wonderful world.


What beautiful thing have you seen today?


Hopeful Homemaker

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All the Places to Love

Children's picture books

This book was one of the first I fell in love with when, as a young mother,  I discovered the world of Children’s Literature.


It is the story of a boy who lives on a farm with his parents and grandparents.


When his Grandpa first saw him, he carved his name on a beam in the barn next to the names of his parents.  Eli grows and through the years his parents and grandparents share with him the places they love most on the farm.


His dad teaches him to love the soil and his grandmother teaches him to love the river.


His mother loves the hill.


And now, today the boy sits with his grandpa waiting in the barn for the announcement that his new baby sister is born.


Her name will be carved on the old barn’s beam next to his.  He looks forward with eagerness to introducing his little sister to “all the places to love” in their little world.


Reading this lovely book always makes me sigh.  MacLachlan’s text is simple but evocative.  Wimmer’s illustrations are rich and beautiful.  To me, this is more than a story of a boy growing up in the country.  It is the story of a boy who is swimming in love, whose life is enriched by an appreciation of simple things.  The nurturing of his parents and grandparents have created this for him, and he waits patiently for the opportunity to share simple beauties with his sister.   I guess I love what this story implies about the relationships in this boy’s family.  They’re the kind of relationships I want to create in my own home.  You don’t have to live in the country to enjoy the world around you.  You just have to be aware and appreciative.  Every time I close this book, I feel more committed to slow down and create more of those moments for my children.  It is a book that makes me yearn to be better.  And I’ll admit that it also makes me wish a I had an old barn with our names carved on the beam!

If you’ve never read this book, I hope someday you have the opportunity to.  You can purchase it here .  Meanwhile, I hope you’ll share all of YOUR places to love with your family.

Hopeful Homemaker

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